Folding crate.



R. H. MORTLAND W. S. KAIL.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. Io. IaIe.

Patented Sept. 18, 191?.

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@if a .za 51 R. R. M ORTLAND & W. S. KAIL.

FOLDING CRATE; APPLIQAIION FILED Nov.1o. |916. hmmm@ r Paten-md sept. 18,1917.

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Ross n. MORTLAND ANnWILBnRT s. KAIL, or solo, omo.

FOLDING `CLR/ATE.` p

To all whom t may concern v Be 1t known thatwe, Ross R. Mon'rLANn and VVILBERT S. KAIL, citizens of the United States, residing at Scio, in the county of Harrison and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Cratesof which the following is a specification.

lThis invention relates to improvements in folding crates.

An object of the invention is to produce a crate of this character constructed wholly of metal and comprising a foraminous body, the elements of which being hingedly connected, and interengaging means provided between the sides and ends for retaining the sides and ends set up, while means is also provided upon one of the sides to engage with the top and to receive securing devices, whereby the top may be locked upon the bottom. i

It is a further object of the invention to construct a foldable crate that shall be made of a plurality of substantiallyrectangular` and U-shaped frames, each of. which being provided with a Vmeshed facing, the ends of the facing being wound around the frames to connect the same with the frames, the sides and end frames being hingedly` connected with the bottom frame, the top frame being hingedly connected with one of the side frames, the end frames being provided with hooleshaped catches to engage with the side frames to retain the sides in set-up position, while one of the said frames is provided with crooked or bent portions that are adapted to pass through the mesh in the top frame for receiving securing elements, the bottom frame being so constructed, and the meshbeing so arranged thereon as to provide a substantially rectangular box or basket member, so that the said bottom may receive the paper partitions of egg nests, when the device isemployed for carrying eggs and also whereby the bottom will snugly receive the ends, sides and top Vwhen the device is in collapsed or folded condition.

With the above and other objects in view, the improvement resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings:`

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate the sides.

Specification of Letters Patent. Prtgntd Sqft 18, 191m Application filed November 10, 1916.

Serial No. 130,635.

constructed in accordance with the present invention Fig. 2 is an approximately central` long1- tudinal sectional view through the same;

Fig. 3 is a, horizontal sectional View approximately on the linew3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. lis a transverse sectional view approximately von the line 1v-f1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a View illustrating the crate in its collapsed position.

As disclosedby the drawings, the facing of all of the members comprising the iiuproved crate is in the nature of wire mesh, and the ends of the said wire are coiled or twisted around the frames that comprise the elements of the frames.

The bottom of the crate is indicated by the numeral 10 and the frame therefore is of substantially rectangular construction, comprising parallel side members 1l-11 and end members 12-12 which connect with The sides 1l of the frame of the bottom are bent downwardly at their corners, as indicated by the numerals 13 whereby the end members of the frame of the bottom are disposed below the plane of the said members therefor. The wire mesh 14 comprising the body proper is bent to provide a substantially rectanglar box-lilte element, the sides of the said mesh extending above the ends of the mesh, whereby the end wires ofthe mesh may be wound around both the sides` and ends of the frame and thereby securely connect it with the fra-ine to provide the base.

The ends of the crate are designated by the numerals 1.5, and the frames for the said ends are substantially U-shaped, comprising parallel sides or arms 16, and a connecting member 17 for the said arms. The ends of the arms 16 are bent around the end wires 12 of the base or bottom frame, as indicated by the numerals 1S, whereby the frame of the end of the crate is hingedly connected with the end members of the frame of the bottom. The mesh covering the frame of the ends of the crate is indicated by the numeral 19, and the end wires, therefore, are wound around the arms 16 of the said end frames, the mesh preferably terminating a` suitable distance below the connecting member 17 for the arms 16. The end members of the crate are of a size to be received between the sides of thebottom member of the crate, and as the same are hingedly secured to the said bottom, a suitable distance above the base thereof, it will be noted that a sufficient space is provided in the bottom to receive say the folded mesh of an egg receptacle, when the crate is adapted to be employed as a conveyance of eggs, but, of course, the basket or box-like Ibottom may be employed for conveying other articles.

The side members of ,the Ycrate, are indicated by the numerals and the frame for these sides comprises a substantially U- shaped member, the arms 21 of which being arranged in lparallel relation, and the connecting. member 22 for the said arms being disposed at a right angle to the plane of the arlns. The arms have their ends bent around the longitudinal mem-bers, providing the sides ofthe frame of the bottom, as indicated by the numerals 23, whereby the sides are hingedly secured to the bottom. The mesh for the sides of the crate `is indicated by the numerals 24, and the ends of this mesh, as previously stated, are wound around the arms of the connecting member ofthe frame for the sides. The arms 2l of the sides are provided with spring substantially hookshaped members comprising clasps 25 which are adapted to engagewith the arms 1G of the end members of the crate to hold the said end members in a set-up position. By reference to the drawings, it will be noted -that the ends of the crate are projected a slight or suitable distance above the sides of the crate, when the said crate is in its set-up position, and the purpose for this arrangement will be presently described.

The connecting member 22 of the frame of one of the sides is crimped or otherwise `bent' upon itself to provide projecting portions lwhich I shall term eyes and which are indicated `by the numerals 26, while the con'- necting member 22 of the other `or second side frame of the crate has wound around' the same, at a suitable distance from the ends or arms 21 of the said side, strands of wire 2727, the said wire being likewise wound around one of the longitudinal members 28, providing the edges of the rectangular frame for the top 29 of the crate. The wire mesh 30 for the top has its ends bent around the longitudinal members 28, as well as bent around the transverse or connecting members 3l for thesaid top. The top 29 is of a slightly greater width than that of the ends Vso that the same projects a suitable distance over the side oppositev that to which it is hingedly connected and by this arrangement when the device is in its set up position and the top swung to a closed position, ythe eyes 26 will'be received between one of the longitudinal bars in the top frame and the mesh 30. A securing element, such as the hasp of a lock or any'othel lsuitable securing means may be arranged in the eye members 26 to lock the top upon the body of the crate. Y

By reference to the drawings, it will be Ynoted that the connecting or end members 31 for `the frame of the top are disposed to lie between the connecting members v`for the ends, so as to. .prevent the inward swinging movement of the said end members when the crate is set up, and yby thismeans, in connectionwith the spring clasps 25 engaging with the said ends of the crate,'the said crate may -be effectively sustained in its set-up condition. Y

yIn'the drawings we have illustrated a simi ple and .separate reduction of the improvement to practice, or as the same nowjap-V pears to us, butlit is tobe understood'that the construction is susceptible to` changes in the minor details thereof, all of which changes, however, falling within the Vscope of the appended claim. 1

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is: Y

. a folding crate, va bottom frame comi prising a substantially rectangular member having its ends disposed below its sides, a flanged mesh connected tothe frame and de-v pending therefrom, side frames including substantially U-shaped members having their ends wound around the :sides ofthe Vbottom frame to hingedly secure the side frames 'to' the bottom, end frames comprising substan tially U`shaped mem-bers having the ends of their frames wound aroun'dit-he sides of the bottom frame to hingedly secure the sides to the said bottom frame, the longitudinal 100 member of'one of the sides being crimped to provide outwardly projecting eyes, va top frame comprising a substantially rectangular member, means lwound around one of the longitudinal portions of the topv frame 105 and one of the connecting members of the side frames for hingedly securing the said top frame to the said side frame, spring hooks upon the end members of the side frames to engage with the end members of `110 the end frames, said top 4adapted Ato be swung between the end frames, when the device is set up, to prevent the" inward movement of the said end frames, a facing comprisingA a wire mesh for all of the frames, -theeyes of 1x15 n one o-f the side frames adapted to'project through the mesh of the top frame and to as and 'for the Ross n. MQRTLAND. wrLBEnfr einem Copies. otfthisfpatent mayvbre .obtained for `vefcents each, by addressing the Commissioner of SPa-tents,

WashingtonfEDaGd 

